WATCH: Cole Palmer's incredible free kick against Brighton completes his hat-trick in under 30 minutes

In the Premier League this afternoon, Chelsea will be looking to build on their strong start under Enzo Maresca as they host Brighton to Stamford Bridge. The Blues, who had another exciting summer, continued where they left off at the end of the brief Mauricio Pochettino era, winning three of their opening five Premier League games to enter the weekend in fifth place, just three points behind first place.

Following victories against Bournemouth and West Ham, the team defeated League Two leaders Barrow in the Carabao Cup midweek. Enzo Maresca was able to make extensive substitutions and make use of his huge roster to keep important players fresh. They will be hosting a Brighton squad today in west London. Under new manager Fabian Hurzeler, the club launched into action and is still undefeated this season. However, their momentum has recently slowed down after three straight draws before a close cup victory against Wolves.

Chelsea fell down in a thrilling first half at Stamford Bridge, but they swiftly pulled ahead. After three quick chances, Cole Palmer scored the third to give himself the goal. The first struck the base of the post, while the second, which was a breakaway goal, was disallowed for offside. He couldn't miss this third one; despite appearing to be in a tangle, Nicolas Jackson used his cunning to identify Cole Palmer, who slipped the ball in.

Watch here the video:

COLE PALMER WHAT A FREE KICK

HATRICK ALREADY 🤯

pic.twitter.com/Zv6n1MXRjP

— Janty (@CFC_Janty) September 28, 2024

Beofre half-time Cole Palmer scored 4 goals against Brighton 

One had the impression that something exceptional was about to happen as the Blues won a free kick 30 yards out from the Brighton goal. Cole Palmer finished a half-hour hat-trick by standing over it, stepping up, and launching a stunning long-range strike to the keeper's side.

The Chelsea forward scored four goals past Brighton in an incredible 20-minute stretch of play at Stamford Bridge, demonstrating his unstoppable form. His four goals before halftime in a single match make him the only player in Premier League history to accomplish that feat.

Additionally, since joining Chelsea last year, Palmer has now equaled the club record for most hat-tricks with three goals or more in a single Premier League game. The 22-year-old has only made 39 appearances for the Blues, but only Didier Drogba, Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, and Frank Lampard have scored as many goals.